Litfin's preview: Offspring of Malibu Moon in maiden events
Moons come out at Belmont
Three 2-year-old maidens by Malibu Moon bear watching in the first and third legs of Friday’s pick five.
In race 1, the $1 million Malibu Moon colt Aldrin, a half-brother to Tapit, makes his second start for Chad Brown after a wide trip chasing Hopeful winner Competitive Edge early at Saratoga.
In race 3, take your pick between two Malibu Moon fillies, Carioca Girl and Purpose of Life.
Carioca Girl, also trained by Chad Brown, is the first runner out of Double Trouble, a Brazilian-bred mare who won the Grade 1 Santa Maria in 2008.
Purpose of Life, who shipped in from Fair Hill to work a half-mile from the gate last week for Graham Motion, is out of the Fusaichi Pegasus mare Chapena, who is a half-sister to Met Mile winner You and I, as well as Chaposa Springs, whose 12 stakes victories included the Ballerina, Test, and Princess Rooney.
But wait, there’s more
There are more 2-year-old maidens to go to school on in race 7, a special-weight sprint that drew nine New York-bred fillies.
Among five first-time starters in the mix are Sandra, a half-sister to 2012 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint runner-up Dust and Diamonds; First Service, whose half-sibling Big Sky Country was a debut winner at Parx Racing; and Janny Love, a half-sister to two six-figure earners.
Sweetpollypurebrd and Yourcreditisgood break from the two inside posts, and appear closely matched based on their recent races at Saratoga.
Tapits are wild in feature
Turf or dirt, fillies by Tapit figure prominently in the $77,000 preliminary allowance feature (race 8).
The versatile Dancing House, who ran third in the Spinaway and Miss Grillo last year, makes her first start since finishing fifth (of 14) in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. In the event of a switch to the main track, her entrymate Snowbell, also by Tapit, would become the one to beat after a fast maiden win at the Spa.
Run of the River, a daughter of Tapit who won her debut at Gulfstream Park, makes her first start since meeting Grade 1-placed Summer Solo and dual Saratoga stakes winner Miss Frost on the inner turf three months ago.
Horse to watch
BOLDLEE
Trainer: Paul Barrow
Last race: Sept. 10, 6th
Finish: 5th by 5
Beyer: 52
Up close pressing the pace along the inside, eased back a bit off the leaders around the turn, and was unable to gain clearance through the stretch in an eventful second try against New York-bred maiden turf sprinters.